Protected gunner&#39;s sight

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a gunner&#39;s sight having a housing, wherein the housing has at least one opening. The housing therefore is not arranged completely around the gunner&#39;s sight. At least one sight is arranged in the housing and its line of sight leads out from the opening. Also provided is at least one protection element which is at least partially transparent. The protection element can therefore constitute protection for the gunner&#39;s sight and can, nevertheless, guarantee the continued functioning of the gunner&#39;s sight as a result of the transparency of the protection element.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a gunner's sight, such as that inparticular to be used on military vehicles. The gunner's sight acts as avisual aid to the sighted target. The target can thus be accuratelydetected, for example to aim a weapon at it.

BACKGROUND

As the gunner's sight is thus a sensitive element when targeting atarget in a combat situation, it is necessary to protect this.

In the context of anti-tank defense, it is generally taught to dazzlearmored forces, for example military vehicles, in such a way that thegunner's sight of the vehicle to be combated is destroyed in such a waythat starting or continuing the combat is no longer possible due to thefailed and/or destroyed gunner's sight.

The availability of airburst munitions in the large and medium-caliberrange has exacerbated this threat to military vehicles, assubprojectiles can now be deployed quickly in large numbers and density,so that the probability that optics will be hit is significantlyincreased.

Modern gunner's sights have sensitive optical paths and complexstabilization systems due to the high demands on resolution and lightsensitivity, so that hitting a single subprojectile is mostly alreadysufficient to achieve a total failure of the affected optics.

In this context, a gunner's sight is understood to be not only thedevice for directing a weapon, but also the device for guiding thevehicle, the so-called commander optics.

From the prior art gunner's sights are known for this purpose which areprovided with protective elements. These can completely seal gunners'sights. However, this also blocks the line of sight of the optics, sothat these remain inoperative. Such protective elements are known fromDE 10 2013 100 331 A1, for example.

In this embodiment the problem arises that, if the gunner's sight isoperative, it is at least partly unprotected and can therefore bedisabled by a hit, as mentioned above. Alternatively, the optics areprotected but inoperative.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is therefore to reveal a gunner'ssight which can be protected by at least one protective element. Thisprotective element is intended to influence the function of the gunner'ssight as little as possible, so that the gunner's sight is protected butoperative.

This object is achieved by the features of the present main claim.

A gunner's sight is therefore proposed which has a housing and at leastone opening in the housing. At least one optics are then arranged in thehousing in such a way that the line of sight of the optics runs throughthe opening. Due to the proposed housing, the gunner's sight is at leastpartially protected. The housing can be protected against ballisticaction for this purpose, and only the optics producing the line of sightremains unprotected due to the opening.

According to the invention, at least one protective element is nowprovided, which is at least partially transparent. Preferably, thetransparent region of the protective element is reinforced, so that itcan also withstand ballistic action. It is proposed to use armored glassfor this purpose, for example.

The protective element can now be arranged in such a way that it is atleast partially located in the opening and thus protects it. In thisposition the protective element at least partially completes theprotection of the housing. The line of sight of the optics then runsthrough the transparent region of the protective element.

Due to a protective element of such a design, it is possible to protectthe gunner's sight from ballistic threats and still keep it functional.The transparent region leads to slight optical performance losses of theoptics depending on the material used.

In order to achieve the requirements for reconnaissance, identification,and target capture performance over several 1000 meters, today gunner'ssight are designed for very high resolution performance and high lightsensitivity. For this reason, the number of elements in the optical pathis minimized and the elements are of highly quality.

At the same time, however, in particular the usage profile of armoredpersonnel carriers includes use cases in which the high resolutionperformance is not required at all due to the short distance to thetarget. These use cases are overcoming targets (close combat, a few 100meters) and use in urban areas. In addition, in these scenarios thethreat of the effect of small caliber weapons (assault rifle and machinegun fire) increases significantly.

For this reason, the accuracies to be achieved with the optics are oftennot required at all, so that minor losses in optical performance can beneglected.

However, in order to allow full performance over a long distance, it isproposed in a special embodiment that the protective element can betransferred from a protective position to a resting position and viceversa. This means that the protective element is at least partiallyarranged in the opening of the housing in its aforementioned protectiveposition. In this protective position, the aforementioned protectiveeffect on the gunner's sights can be exerted.

However, the protective element can also be placed outside the opening,which corresponds to the aforementioned resting position. In thisresting position, the protective element does not fulfill itsaforementioned protective function but does not diminishes the opticalperformance of the gunner's sight due to the fact that it is notarranged in the line of sight of the optics. The protective element canbe arranged at an edge of the opening or outside the housing or as partof the housing.

Thus, by the transfer from the protective position to the restingposition and vice versa depending on the application, protection for theaforementioned condition of the gunner's sight can be guaranteed or thefull optical performance of the gunner's sight can be used.

It is proposed to arrange the transparent regions of the protectiveelement in such a way that in their protective position they are in theline of sight of the optics. Since the gunner's sight can have multipleoptics, the protective lens may also be designed with multipletransparent regions so as not to cover any sight lines in the protectiveposition. Therefore all transparent regions of the protective elementare positioned so that they are each arranged in a line of sight of theoptics in the protective position.

Likewise, embodiments with multiple protective elements are possible,wherein each protective element then has only one transparent region. Inthis embodiment, a device is then provided for each optics used.Finally, a protective element can also be provided which has a largetransparent region, which can then be arranged in all lines of sight ofthe optics.

Preferably, the transfer of the protective element from the protectiveposition to the resting position and vice versa is carried out by motor,wherein an electric motor is preferably proposed for this purpose.However, the transfer of the protective element to the various positionscan also be carried out hydraulically or pneumatically. Finally, amanual transfer is also possible.

As already described, the gunner's sight may have multiple optics, forexample for different wavelengths. Furthermore, gunner's sights mayinclude additional detectors. Such detectors can be laser units, forexample for distance measurement, but also various other sensors such asproximity sensors, magnetic sensors, metal detectors, etc. can beintegrated into the gunner's sights. In order to protect these againstfailures, these additional detectors can also be protected by theprotective element, such that the protective element is also positionedin the regions of the opening in which these detectors are arranged.Depending on the type of detector, these must then also be placed in atransparent region in the protective element in its protective positionor in a region of the protective element in which the protective elementis equipped with a material such that the function of the detector islargely preserved.

In another, preferred embodiment it is proposed that the gunner's sightis equipped with shot detection means. These shot detection means do notnecessarily have to be present in the gunner's sight. Networking canalso be used with suitable shot detection means.

By means of the shot detection means it can be determined when aballistic threat to the gunner's sight occurs. In this case, a warningcan be produced with appropriate signals, after which a correspondingoperator can then transfer the protective element into its protectiveposition.

In a further preferred embodiment it is proposed that the protectiveelement is automatically transferred into its protective position if athreat has been detected by the aforementioned shot detection means. Forthis purpose, the connection or networking of the shot detection meanswith the motorized position transfer of the protective elementautomatically transfers the protective element from a resting positioninto its protective position by motorized means when the threat isdetected.

The aforementioned automatic transfer to the protective position reducesthe likelihood of a failure of the gunner's sight due to a ballisticthreat.

In a further preferred embodiment, the gunner's sight according to theinvention is designed in such a way that the optics therein are arrangedrotatably and/or pivotably. Thus, the optics can cover a larger areathan optics in a fixed position in the housing.

Furthermore, it is optionally proposed that the housing comprises atleast one sighting window, through which the sight lines of the opticsin the gunner's sight can run.

Sighting windows have the advantage that the optics are protected fromdirt and dust, wherein the sighting windows alone do not provideprotection against ballistic threats.

In the case of the embodiments with the sighting windows, thetransparent regions of the protective element must then be designed insuch a way that they correspond to the sighting windows in order toavoid obscuring lines of sight.

Preferably, the proposed gunner's sight is used in vehicles, especiallyin military vehicles. For this purpose, the gunner's sight may bearranged in the chassis of the vehicle or in the tower of the vehicle.In order to ensure that the widest possible field of view can becovered, it is further preferably proposed to arrange the gunner's sightrotatably and/or pivotably on or in the chassis or the tower.

The gunner's sight according to the invention can be installed onvehicles. This means that it is placed on the chassis or the tower andprotrudes therefrom. Likewise, however, it can also be integrated in thechassis or tower, so that mostly only the opening protrudes out of thechassis or the tower.

To transfer the protective element according to the invention from itsresting position to the protective position or vice versa, theprotective element can be pivoted, rotated, or moved. In the event ofpivoting, it is swiveled in front of the opening of the housing of thegunner's sight from outside the housing. It is also possible to bringabout the position transfer by horizontal or vertical movement of theprotective element. Finally, the transfer of the various positions by arotary movement is conceivable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features are derived from the attached drawing.

In the figure:

FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a gunner's sight according to theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a gunner's sight according to the invention with a housing1. The housing does not completely enclose the gunner's sight, so thatan opening 6 is provided in the housing 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least one optics 4 are located in the gunner's sight, wherein theseare arranged so that the line of sight of the optics 4 runs through theopening 6.

According to the invention, a protective element 7 is now provided,which is implemented to be at least partially transparent. Thisprotective element 7 can now be transferred from a protective positioninto a resting position and vice versa. In the drawing this happens bythe protective element 7 being moved vertically upwards from a drawnresting position, so that the protective element 7 is then at leastpartially arranged in the opening 6.

The protective element 7 is designed in such a way that it is eitherfully or partially transparent. In the partially transparent embodiment,the protective element has transparent regions that are not ordered sothat no line of sight of the optics 4 is obscured. The optics 4 can bearranged to be mounted movably in the housing 1 and thus the course ofthe line of sight is displaced by the position change of the optics 4.The transparent regions of the protective element 7 must be designed insuch a way that none of the possible lines of sight of the optics 4 areobscured.

The transfer of the protective element 7 from the resting position tothe protective position and vice versa can be done manually or by motor.For the motorized transfer it is proposed to use an electric motor or ahydraulic drive or a pneumatic drive. For manual position transfer, alever or gearbox which is manually operated could be provided.

The protective element 7 is designed in such a way that it can withstandballistic effects. This also includes the transparent regions of theprotective element 7. For this purpose, it is proposed to design theprotective element 7 of armored glass. But other transparent materialsare also possible if they can withstand ballistic effects.

The gunner's sight according to the invention can comprise furtherdetectors 5 in the housing 1. If they also require a line of sight or anoptical line, the transparent regions of the protective elements 7 inthe protective position will also be arranged so that they do notobscure the sight line or the optical line of the additional detectors.

Additional shot detection means are not drawn since these do not have tobe arranged in the vicinity of the gunner's sight. They can be networkedwith the gunner's sight. These shot detection means are capable ofdetecting ballistic threats and, if necessary, issuing signals so thatprotective measures can be initiated. Protective measures then alsoinclude the transfer of the protective element 7 into the protectiveposition.

Preferably, the transfer into the protective position can be doneautomatically after threats are detected by the shot detection means.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are two sighting windows 2,3. The optics 4 arearranged behind these. The optics 4 can be pivoted or rotated andproject their line of sight through these sighting windows 2,3. Thesighting windows 2,3 have the function of ensuring additionalprotection, namely from dirt and dust. These sighting windows are fixedin position and completely transparent.

Preferably, the gunner's sight shown is used on a vehicle, in particulara military vehicle. The gunner's sight can be arranged on or in thechassis or tower of the vehicle. In order to cover as wide a field ofview as possible, it is proposed to arrange the gunner's sight rotatablyand/or pivotably.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned features.Rather, further embodiments are conceivable. Thus, multiple protectiveelements could be provided, which can be positioned in front ofdifferent sighting windows. The protective element may be located at anedge of the opening in its resting position. However, the protectiveelement may also be placed outside the housing in its resting position.The protective element is then rotated or pivoted or moved back andforth between its positions. A combination of these position transfersis also possible.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

1 Housing

2 First sighting window

3 Second sighting window

4 Optics

5 Detector

6 Opening

7 Protective element

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A gunner's sight with a housing, with at least oneopening in the housing, with at least one optics, which are arranged inthe housing such that the line of sight of the optics runs through theopening, wherein at least one protective element is provided, which isimplemented to be at least partially transparent.
 17. The gunner's sightas claimed in claim 16, wherein the protective element can betransferred from a protective position to a resting position and viceversa, wherein in the protective position the protective element is atleast partially arranged in the opening and in the resting position isarranged outside the opening.
 18. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim16, wherein the transparent regions of the protective element arearranged in such a way that in the protective position they are in theline of sight of the optics.
 19. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim16, wherein the transfer of the protective element from the protectiveposition to the resting position and vice versa is carried out by motor.20. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim 16, wherein the transparentregion of the protective element is reinforced so that it withstandsballistic effects.
 21. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim 16,wherein the gunner's sight comprises at least one additional detector.22. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim 16, wherein shot detectionmeans are provided.
 23. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim 22,wherein after shot detection by the shot detection means the protectiveelement is automatically transferred into its protective position. 24.The gunner's sight as claimed in claim 16, wherein the optics in thehousing are rotatably and/or pivotably arranged.
 25. The gunner's sightas claimed in in claim 16, wherein the housing comprises at least onesighting window.
 26. The gunner's sight as claimed in claim 25, whereinthe sighting windows are implemented as positionally fixed, fullytransparent additional protection elements.
 27. A vehicle with agunner's sight as claimed in claim
 16. 28. The vehicle as claimed inclaim 27, wherein the gunner's sight is arranged on or in a chassis ofthe vehicle.
 29. The vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein thegunner's sight is arranged on or in a tower of the vehicle.
 30. Thevehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein the gunner's sight is arrangedrotatably and/or pivotably.